Kanu's Portsmouth exit buoys administrator Trevor Birch

Portsmouth administrator Trevor Birch says he has been "encouraged" by the progress the club have made in their attempts to avoid liquidation following the exit of Kanu from Fratton Park.

Birch has given the club until 10 August to get rid of all their remaining senior players or reach compromise agreements with them.

With Kanu now gone, the side have just three senior players at the club.

"We've made encouraging progress," Birch said.

Administrators PKF also confirmed today that the former Arsenal striker, who has reached the end of his 14-day notice period, is still involved in a dispute over unpaid wages.

Because of that dispute, PKF are now filing a submission to the Football League and are pushing for a hearing to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

Kanu, who has walked out on the final year of his contract, is reportedly claiming up to £3m in periods of unpaid wages since 2006 and Birch has asked for a tribunal to intervene.